The Indiana Steam House

adamfre

Hi all! I finally got those pictures requested, here is a link back to my iCloud photos https://icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0O532ODWngzB2 What do you think?
One kind of odd thing, I didn't see a vent anywhere in the basement, is that normal with this type of system?

I'll also post a pic of the house, I finally thought to snag one on the way out lol

Steamhead

For some reason the pics don't display...................

BobC

You have a bull headed connection feeding a small main between the two boiler risers, how many radiators does that feed and how do those radiators work compared to the others?
At some point that pipe should be moved so it is between the last boiler riser and the equalizer.

Bob

adamfre

@Steamhead can you still not see it? I checked permissions and I think that album is public..... Worse comes to worse I can just posted them here, filesize Is a bit big though.

Paul48

Wow.............Someone wrote a mortgage on that house? Someone insured it? The wiring looks like a fire ready-to-happen.

Steamhead

adamfre said:

@Steamhead can you still not see it? I checked permissions and I think that album is public..... Worse comes to worse I can just posted them here, filesize Is a bit big though.

Nope, I just get a black screen and that little rotating line.

If you can shrink the pics to roughly 640x480 and post them, they should display fine and won't take too long to load.

BobC

I had no trouble with the pics. maybe you have a wonky driver? Try a different browser.

Bob

Paul48

@Steamhead

What Browser are you using? I'm on a fairly cheap laptop and it opens fine for me.

Jamie Hall

@Steamhead -- I use Firefox on laptop, no problem -- but I have a pretty fast internet connection.

And that basement does look... um... interesting!

adamfre

LOL @Jamie Hall the house has several 'issues' to put it nicely . @Steamhead I'm shrinking the pics now, will have them uploaded soon.

Fred

It takes a long time for the pictures to come up but they eventually do. I'm using Google Chrome

Paul48

Back in the day, I wouldn't have hesitated taking on a project like that. At my age, I get tired looking at it.

Leon82

Looks like galvanized waterlines also.

Fred

Paul48 said:

Back in the day, I wouldn't have hesitated taking on a project like that. At my age, I get tired looking at it.

Clean up the basement (old rubble stone walls always look worse they they usually are), strip out all the old tube and knob and rewire, new plumbing, might as well insulate when the walls are opened up. Can't see the condition of the roof or what's behind the aluminum siding. In these old houses, it's not what you see that's cause for concern (since you already know you have to deal with issues), it's what you can't see until you start opening things up. Any signs of termites? This is going to be a major undertaking.

Paul48

Believe me.......I know what's involved. I see knob and tube, arsenic wire and three-wire splices. About 25 years ago, when we were looking houses, we were in the basement of a beautiful house, when the realtor reached up and grabbed the knob and tube, as he said it had all been disconnected. Needless to say, he regretted doing that.

adamfre

Here we go.... In no particular order.... iPad does not make this easy! @Steamhead I shrunk them down to about 500k, should be easier to load.

Paul48

Why is there a gaping hole in the side of the chimney?

adamfre

@Paul48, they managed to stuff 2 stainless flues down that chimney, and decided they needed access there .

adamfre

@Fred, one of the first things that needs to be done is to trash that basement completely out and do a through cleanup. There is barely enough room to turn around down there.

Steamhead

Yeah, that hole doesn't look good.

The return line that runs horizontally roughly halfway up the wall will probably bang. It was probably below the original boiler's waterline, which would have filled it with water, but is now above the present boiler's waterline so steam can enter it. Need to move it down close to floor level.

The steam piping around the boiler is all wrong. Consult the manufacturer's piping diagram when re-piping.

The radiator valves are definitely vintage- they use right-and-left-hand nipples instead of unions to connect to the rad.

Nothing I can see looks unfixable.

Paul48

https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/7a/b8c8a735f2e95b37ec651bf2b99e6a.jpeg

Paul48

This is the one I was trying to post...I think

https://us.v-cdn.net/5021738/uploads/FileUpload/57/5353a224c6d615a66b72b6c972f014.jpeg

adamfre

I think in that pic the smaller line goes up to a rad in the back hallway. The main line elbows over to the far side of the basement. The electric right next to it is a widow maker!

Paul48

They reduced the size, and created a pool of standing condensate.

JUGHNE

With a house of that vintage there could be a UG oil tank (or2) hiding in the yard. $$$ for removal.
Even UG LPG tanks.
Don't forget abandoned septic tanks or cesspools. (hazards)
Needs an electrician also.
If so then more leverage in negotiations. (Assuming you are still at that stage).

adamfre

@Paul48, aaah, I see what you are saying there. Seems odd they would of reduced diameter within 15 foot of the boiler, and with what could be potentially 2/3 the heating load further down that pipe.

ChrisJ

Make sure you get that plastic lid off of the drafthood before the boiler is fired up.

Otherwise, you're going to be unhappy for a while.

My biggest concern would be the buried oil tank.